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Concept: [Semibalanus balanoides], [Patella vulgata] and [Littorina] spp. on exposed to moderately exposed or vertical sheltered eulittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A1.1131
Preferred label [Semibalanus balanoides], [Patella vulgata] and [Littorina] spp. on exposed to moderately exposed or vertical sheltered eulittoral rock
Definition Very exposed to sheltered mid to upper eulittoral bedrock and large boulders characterised by dense barnacles [Semibalanus balanoides] and the limpet [Patella vulgata]. The community has a relatively low diversity of species though occasional cracks and crevices in the rock can provide a refuge for small individuals of the mussel [Mytilus edulis], the winkle [Littorina] spp. and the whelk [Nucella lapillus]. Seaweeds are usually not found in high numbers though fissures and crevices in the bedrock can hold a sparse algae community, though patches of the red seaweed [Osmundea pinnatifida] can be present throughout the zone. On some shores the olive green lichen [Verrucaria mucosa] can be present in some abundance (Frequent). Records should not be assigned to this species impoverished biotope if there is a significant number or abundance of seaweeds. Situation: On very exposed to exposed shores [Chthamalus] spp. (see Cht.Cht for geographical variation) often forms a distinct white band above a darker band of [S. balanoides] in the mid eulittoral zone. Alternatively, found above Sem are the black lichen [Verrucaria maura] dominated biotopes (Ver.Ver or Ver.B). In the lower eulittoral and the sublittoral fringe is a community dominated by the wrack [Himanthalia elongata] and various red seaweeds including [Corallina officinalis], [Mastocarpus stellatus] and [Osmundea pinnatifida] (Him; Coff; Osm) or the mussel and barnacle dominated biotope MytB. Sem.Sem may occur on steep and vertical faces on more sheltered shores, while fucoids dominate the flatter areas (Sem.FvesR; FvesB). Temporal variation: Periods with little scour or less severe storms can allow a seaweed community to develop creating a more diverse biotope (i.e. Fves). This is a dynamic process, which will change individual sites over time. More information is required to validate this hypothesis.
Notation A1.1131
Status Valid
Status Modified 31.01.2014
Accepted Date 31.01.2014
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match